PUBLIC AFFAIRS 101:  INTRODUCTION TO THE ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC POLICY

Course Syllabus, Fall 2008
MWF 12:45 ‑1:40 Maxwell Auditorium
Instructor: William D. Coplin x‑3709, Maxwell 102; email: wdcoplin@maxwell.syr.edu 
Office Hours: M: 8:30‑9:30; 3-4; W: 8:30‑9:30; F: 8:30‑9:30 & 2:00-4:00
Email the instructor, visit the Office or call x-2348 to make an appointment

 PAF 101: Introduction to the Analysis of Public Policy introduces you to basic skills of public policy analysis. These skills are:

1)  Become willing and able to do good effectively.
2)  Define and identify the components of public policy issues.    
3)  Communicate ideas and findings with respect to public policy issues.
4)  Collect information on public policy issues. 
5)  Use graphs, tables, and statistics to analyze public policy.
6)  Examine the use of surveys and informal interviewing procedures.
7)  Identify a social problem and come up with a proposed public policy to deal with it.               
8)  List the benefits and costs of a proposed public policy.
9)  Develop benchmarks to assess the impact of your policy on societal conditions.
10) Analyze the political factors and develop strategies to implement a proposed public policy.
11) Identify essential features of major current public policy issues.
12) Work in teams effectively.

 PAF 101 fulfills a social sciences and a critical reflections requirement for the Arts and Sciences core and for several other social science majors.  It is also required for all Policy Studies majors.  It introduces you to research skills that you will use throughout your college career and the rest of your life. 

 PAF 101 is divided into five parts.  For each part, you will submit a module paper.  The papers consist of exercises that you will download from the PAF 101 web page.   Each module must be typed following the correct format.  Absences, tardiness or poor participation in class will result in deductions from your module grades.  Class time will be used for lectures, outside speakers, and group exercises.

 The PAF 101 Website (http://classes.maxwell.syr.edu/paf101) contains critical information. You will need to download sections to bring to class. Newsletters for each module will be posted as the course progresses.  In addition, you will find TA office hours, extra credit speaker forms, a real-people guide, research tips and other useful items.

 MODULE DUE DATES AND WEIGHTS:

REQUIRED MATERIALS:  Available at SU Bookstore and Follett Orange Bookstore:

1. Coplin, William D. The Maxwell Manual for Good Citizenship: Public Policy Skills in Action   Croton on the Hudson: Policy Studies Associates, 2007.

2.      Coplin, William D.  How You Can Help: An Easy Guide to Doing Good Deeds in Your Everyday Life.  New York: Routledge, 2000

3.      Download course exercises and other materials from the web address:                   http://classes.maxwell.syr.edu/paf101/

UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Undergraduate teaching assistants will help you learn the material and complete the assigned papers.  The teaching assistants took PAF 101 last semester and were selected on the basis of their performances in the course, interviews, and their GPAs.  TA office hours are held in Maxwell 113.  A chart listing the teaching assistants� office hours will be available the second week of classes.  You will be assigned to a supervising TA who will record participation and advise you about your progress in the course.  You can visit any TA during office hours.

REGULATIONS AFFECTING GRADES

You can obtain 650 points by handing in perfect papers on time, participating in all classes, and completing the community experience.  In addition, extra credit can be obtained through group activities in class, attending speeches on campus and by completing extra community service hours (beyond the required 5). The following rules should be carefully read and followed because they will directly affect your grades.

1. PARTICIPATION POLICY   Starting with the third class, attendance will be taken by your TA.  Each absence, lateness after 12:45pm, or failure to participate in a responsible way will result in a five-point deduction from your module score. Occasionally, effective participation will require completion of a brief homework assignment.  Failure to complete such assignments will be treated as failure to participate. Poor attention or lack of preparation will result in the same point reduction as if you were not in class at all. This includes sleeping or reading other materials during class. You will also lose 5 points if your cell phone rings during class or if you leave class early.

2. COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE   Each student will complete a community experience of five hours and a one page reflection paper described on the website.  Failure to complete the experience by the specified date will result in a loss of 35 points from the 650 points available in the course.

3. EXTRA CREDIT   Extra points can be obtained through outstanding participation in competition groups. Students may also attend speeches or lectures and submit essays according to the directions on the course website 

4. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:  Students must hand in their own work.  Collaboration in research is permitted as long as there is not even the slightest evidence of direct copying or paraphrasing. Collaborating students should not be using the same articles, websites, or books. Any similarity in wording between two papers, including a consistent case of the same sources will result in a zero for both papers and a letter to your dean. Falsely reporting attendance at extra credit speeches or community service is also considered academic dishonesty. The French legal system operates here: you are guilty until proven innocent. The Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know that it is their responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verifications of participation in class activities. Serious sanctions can result from academic dishonesty of any sort. For more information and the complete policy, see http://academicintegrity.syr.edu

5. NO INCOMPLETES   If your work is not finished by the last day of class, a zero for the unfinished work will be averaged into the grade.  A grade of incomplete will not be given.  No exceptions to this rule. 

6. LATE PAPER POLICY   All papers are due at 12:45 p.m.  Any paper received after 12:45 p.m. on the designated day will be considered late.  You will lose 5 points if the paper is received by 4:30 p.m. on the date that it is due.  Each day after the due date, you will lose 10 points if handed in by 4:30 p.m. If you hand in any of the first four modules late, you may submit a written excuse with the paper.  The number of points deducted, if any, will be determined after the excuse and the paper are handed in. Computer and printer problems are not accepted as vital excuses.  The module five paper must be handed in by 12:45 p.m. on the last day of classes.  You will receive a zero for the module five paper if it is not in by 12:45!

7. DISABILITY SERVICES Students who may need academic accommodations due to a disability are encouraged to discuss their needs with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. In order to obtain authorized accommodations, students should be registered with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 804 University Avenue, Room 309, 315-443-4498 and have an updated accommodation letter for the instructor. Accommodations and related support services such as exam administration are not provided retroactively and must be requested in advance. For more information and the complete policy, see http://academicintegrity.syr.edu 

8.  MODULE RE-EVALUATION   If you are unhappy with your module grade, you may submit a regrade request by the next class. Professor Coplin will regrade the paper. If you still have questions, you may meet with Professor Coplin, by appointment, so he can explain his decision.  He will not adjust the grade as a result of this meeting, but he will explain his decision. Procedures for the regrade process will be explained in class.